Mississippi College

Yesterday and today were spent in Clinton, Mississippi. Yesterday, the riders visited Mississippi College, while I stayed at the hotel trying to process through everything that happened to me in Waco. I got very little sleep in jail, so I took some time to rest and come to terms with the entire experience.

Our situation in the Deep South is getting very, very serious. On March 20, Clinton police officials informed us that we would be cited if we “attempt[ed] to gather or travel in a group of four or more” near the campus of Mississippi College. Lt. Thomas R. Ruffin acknowledged that the department’s actions “could be construed as conflicting with constitutional allowances,” but said that our presence in Clinton presented “valid public safety concerns.”

Mississippi College organizer, Stephen Krebs, contacted his father and friends in Washington, D.C. who had significant connections to the ACLU, and the ACLU wrote a detailed letter to the Clinton Police Department citing many instances where cities tried to do the same and were sued. The police department called Stephen and told him, “You play the game well,” and took back their restrictions.

Five Equality Riders were arrested at Mississippi College as they attempted to walk on campus and dialogue with students. One rider, Amy Scott, walked up and shook the hand of a student and tried talking with him as he repeated Bible verses to her. He was still talking when the police cuffed her and took her away.







That very day, the riders had to go to trial, where things got even grimmer. Our lawyer told the riders that things were very serious, and that their fates were in the hands of the judge. The lawyer told them, “I don’t think you understand how serious this is. There is a distinct possibility of you getting jail time up to 6 months.”

The judge reviewed their records and found that three of the riders had previous trespassing charges and gave them 4 days of community service in Clinton. Also, if they are arrested again anywhere in the country in a period of 2 years, a warrant will be issued for their arrest in Mississippi and the three who have previous records will have to serve 20 days in jail and the other two riders will have to serve 10 days in jail. The lawyer said that the judge could tell that arrest was not deterring us, so he made the punishment harder… and he told us not to be surprised if punishments only get worse from here on out.

That’s not all. This latter part is taken from a letter written to the police department of Clinton-

“Last night, while in the town of Clinton, Mississippi, we experienced a distressing form of police intimidation. After a day of dialogue at nearby Mississippi College, we parked our bus in downtown Clinton. We were waiting for the return of some of the members of our tour from area coffee shops. While waiting, a police vehicle approached the bus with its lights flashing, signaling us to move. Our bus driver immediately turned down the nearest road and into a church parking lot to await the Equality Riders. The same officer once again followed us into the parking lot, with his lights on and asked our driver to speak with him. The officer was quite aggressive in demanding that we "go on and get out of town." Our driver explained that we were still waiting on the remainder of our group, but was still forced to move the bus. At that time, we drove and parked the bus in a lot that was previously designated by the city of Clinton. For the third time, a police vehicle approached us with flashing lights. The officer who approached us was extremely indignant and asked us "what is your problem? We have already given you breaks today." Our driver explained that we were in the space the City provided for us. In response, the officer asserted that our driver would be arrested if he were to take us anywhere else and not leave the city of Clinton immediately.”

As you can see, the law is hell-bent on upholding the discrimination and homophobia that pervades the South. The judge had no mercy. The police had no mercy. At this point, we are all considering civil disobedience in a whole new light.

The next time we are arrested, the judge could very well give us serious time. Last night, we all went to bed with heavy hearts and racing minds.

This is getting so real.